International Criminal Court

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ask members of the European Union and the Commonwealth who have not yet done so to ratify the Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Baroness Amos: Yes. Only three members of the EU, Ireland, Portugal and Greece, have yet to ratify the statute. We are confident that they will do so soon in line with the commitments agreed in the EU Common Position on the International Criminal Court in June 2001. Fourteen Commonwealth countries have ratified to date. We shall continue our policy of lobbying the remainder at every opportunity.

Diplomatic Premises Overseas

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Of which diplomatic premises overseas they are the freehold owners.

Baroness Amos: The posts overseas which have offices and/or official residences of heads of post mission of which the FCO is the freehold owner are as follows (see attached list).
	
		
			 Post Office or Residence 
			 Abidjan Office 
			 Abidjan Residence 
			 Abidjan Office 
			 Alexandria Office and Residence 
			 Algiers Residence 
			 Algiers Office 
			 Alicante Office 
			 Almaty Office (visa section only) 
			 Amman Residence 
			 Amman Office 
			 Amsterdam Residence 
			 Amsterdam Office 
			 Antananarivo Residence 
			 Asuncion Residence 
			 Athens Office 
			 Athens Residence 
			 Atlanta Residence 
			 Auckland Residence 
			 Bahrain Office and Residence 
			 Bangkok Offices and Residence 
			 Barcelona Office 
			 Belgrade Office 
			 Belmopan Residence 
			 Belmopan Office 
			 Berne Office 
			 Berne Residence 
			 Bilbao Office 
			 Bogota Residence 
			 Bordeaux Residence 
			 Boston Residence 
			 Brasilla Residence 
			 Brasilla Office 
			 Bratislava Residence 
			 Bratislava Office 
			 Bridgetown Residence 
			 Bridgetown Office 
			 Brisbane Residence 
			 Brussels Residence 
			 Brussels Residence 
			 Bucharest Office 
			 Bucharest Residence 
			 Budapest Residence 
			 Buenos Aires Office 
			 Buenos Aires Residence 
			 Cairo Office 
			 Cairo Residence 
			 Calcutta Office 
			 Cape Town Office 
			 Caracas Residence 
			 Caracas Office 
			 Castries Residence 
			 Chicago Residence 
			 Colombo Office 
			 Dakar Residence 
			 Dakar Office 
			 Damascus Residence 
			 Dar Es Salaam Residence 
			 Dublin Office 
			 Dublin Residence 
			 Durban Residence 
			 Gaborone Office 
			 Gaborone Residence 
			 Georgetown Office 
			 Georgetown Residence 
			 Gothenburg Residence 
			 Guatemala City Residence 
			 Guatemala City Office 
			 Harare Residence 
			 Helsinki Residence 
			 Helsinki Office 
			 Ho Chi Minh City Office 
			 Ho Chi Minh City Residence 
			 Houston Residence 
			 Jakarta Office 
			 Jakarta Residence 
			 Jerusalem Office 
			 Jerusalem Residence 
			 Johannesburg Residence 
			 Karachi Office 
			 Karachi Residence 
			 Kathmandu Office 
			 Kathmandu Residence 
			 Khartoum Residence 
			 Khartoum Office 
			 Kigali Office 
			 Kingston Residence 
			 Kingston Office 
			 Kingstown Office 
			 Kingstown Residence 
			 Kinshasa Residence 
			 Kinshasa Office 
			 Kuala Lumpur Residence 
			 Kuala Lumpur Office 
			 La Paz Office 
			 La Paz Residence 
			 Lliongwe Office 
			 Lliongwe Residence 
			 Lima Office 
			 Lima Residence 
			 Lisbon Residence 
			 Lisbon Office 
			 Los Angeles Residence 
			 Luanda Office 
			 Luanda Residence 
			 Luxembourg Residence 
			 Lyon Residence 
			 Madras (Chennai) Residence 
			 Madras (Chennai) Office 
			 Madrid Office 
			 Madrid Residence 
			 Manila Residence 
			 Manila Office 
			 Maputo Office 
			 Maputo Residence 
			 Marseilles Office 
			 Mbabane Office 
			 Mbabane Residence 
			 Melbourne Residence 
			 Mexico City Residence 
			 Mexico City Office 
			 Montevideo Residence 
			 Montevideo Office 
			 Montreal Residence 
			 Munich Residence 
			 Nairobi Residence 
			 Naples Office 
			 Naples Residence 
			 Nassau Residence 
			 New York Jmo Residence 
			 Nicosia Office 
			 Nicosia Residence 
			 Oslo Office 
			 Oslo Residence 
			 Ottawa Office 
			 Ottawa Residence 
			 Palma Office 
			 Panama City Office 
			 Paris Residence 
			 Paris Office 
			 Perth Residence 
			 Plymouth Office 
			 Port Louis Residence 
			 Port Louis Office 
			 Port of Spain Residence 
			 Portimao Office 
			 Prague Residence 
			 Prague Office 
			 Pretoria Office 
			 Pretoria Residence 
			 Quito Residence 
			 Quito Office 
			 Rabat Residence 
			 Rangoon Office 
			 Rangoon Residence 
			 Reykjavik Residence 
			 Riga Office 
			 Riga Residence 
			 Rio De Janeiro Residence 
			 Rome Residence 
			 Rome Office 
			 San Francisco Residence 
			 San Jose Residence 
			 San Salvador Residence 
			 Santiago Residence 
			 Santiago Office 
			 Sao Paulo Residence 
			 Seattle Residence 
			 Seoul Office 
			 Seoul Residence 
			 Singapore Office 
			 Singapore Residence 
			 Skopje Office 
			 Sofia Residence 
			 St George's Residence 
			 St John's Residence 
			 St Petersburg Office 
			 St Petersburg Residence 
			 Stockholm Office 
			 Stockholm Residence 
			 Strasbourg Residence 
			 Suva Office 
			 Sydney Residence 
			 Tehran Residence 
			 Tehran Office 
			 Tel Aviv Office 
			 Tel Aviv Residence 
			 The Hague Office 
			 The Hague Residence 
			 Toronto Residence 
			 Vancouver Residence 
			 Victoria Residence 
			 Vienna Office 
			 Vienna Residence (Ambassador) 
			 Vienna Residence (Head of UKMIS) 
			 Vienna Residence (Head of OSCE) 
			 Vientiane Residence 
			 Vilnius Office 
			 Vilnius Residence 
			 Washington Residence 
			 Washington Office 
			 Wellington Residence 
			 Wellington Office 
			 Windhoek Office 
			 Windhoek Residence 
			 Yerevan Office 
			 Yerevan Residence

Diplomatic Premises Overseas

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to dispose of freehold real estate overseas which is used for British diplomatic missions.

Baroness Amos: The FCO has disposed of or will dispose of the following properties from the diplomatic estate overseas in the current financial year (see below).
	
		
			 Post  
			 Africa  
			 Cape Town 2 residential properties 
			 Dar es Salaam 1 residential property 
			 Lagos 2 residential properties 
			 Lilongwe 6 residential properties 
			 Lusaka 1 residential property 
			 Mbabane 1 Office 
			 Pretoria 2 residential properties 
			  
			 Americas  
			 Bogota 6 residential properties 
			 Bridgetown 1 residential property 
			 Buenos Aires 1 residential property 
			 Chicago 1 residential property 
			 Montevideo 1 residential property 
			 New York 2 residential properties 
			 Ottawa 1 residential property 
			 Port of Spain 3 residential properties 
			 Santiago 1 residential property 
			 Stanley 1 residential property 
			 Washington 7 residential properties 
			  
			 Asia Pacific  
			 Bombay 2 residential properties 
			 Jakarta 1 residential property 
			 Kuala Lumpur 1 residential property 
			 Singapore Residence garden (surplus part) 
			 Sydney 1 residential property 
			  
			 European Union  
			 Athens 3 residential properties 
			 Berlin 1 residential property 
			 Brussels 2 residential properties 
			 Dublin 2 residential properties 
			 Helsinki 2 residential properties 
			 Lyons 1 residential property 
			 Munich 1 residential property 
			 Paris 13 residential properties 
			 Stockholm 1 residential property 
			 The Hague 3 residential properties 
			 Vienna 1 residential property 
			 Wider Europe  
			 Geneva 1 residential property 
			 Kiev 1 residential property 
			 Oslo 1 residential property 
			 Reykjavik 1 residential property 
			 Valletta 1 residential property and1 plot of land to rear 
			  Middle East and North Africa  
			 Cairo 1 residential property 
			 Muscat 1 residential property 
			 Tel Aviv 2 residential properties

Israel: Occupied Territories

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ask the high contracting parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention concerning the protection of civilians in time of war in the Occupied Territories to discuss Israel's alleged further violations of that convention.

Baroness Amos: In line with the July 1999 agreement, the United Kingdom, together with our EU partners, has agreed in principle to the reconvening of the Conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to consider the development of the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Territories.

Population Policies

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what basis they maintain that the United Nations Population Fund monitors coercive population policies in the 47 counties referred to by Lord Grocott on the International Development Bill (H.L. Deb., 25 October, col. 1119); what data have been published and what monitoring takes place in the other 2,435 Chinese counties.

Baroness Amos: UNFPA's programme in China is the subject of close scrutiny. The fund seeks through its own routine monitoring to visit sites in all counties where it is providing support twice each year. Members of UNFPA's Executive Board including the United Kingdom, United States and EU member states, and developing countries have also made external monitoring visits to programme areas on at least two occasions since 1999. Representatives from EU member state missions also maintain close interest in UNFPA's programme. US Congressional staff and officials from US missions in China have also made several visits to monitor UNFPA's work in China. UNFPA's new Executive Director, Dr Thoraya Obaid, is visiting China in December to review the programme.
	UNFPA maintains a watching brief on non-UNFPA programme counties and reports allegations of abuses by family planning officials in other parts of China to the Chinese authorities. UNFPA also investigates specific allegations of abuse through independent mission visits. I will arrange for a copy of the report of the October 2001 mission to UNFPA programme counties in China, led by Dr Nicholas Biegman, former Dutch Ambassador to the United Nations, to be placed in the Library of the House.

Passports

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many of the total number of United Kingdom passports in issue are machine readable and how many are not; and at which points of entry into the United Kingdom immigration officers have equipment to record electronically details of machine readable passports.

Lord Rooker: The United Kingdom Passport Service has been issuing machine-readable passports since 1988. As a result, almost all United Kingdom-issued passports are machine-readable. The only exceptions will be where a passport has been exceptionally extended due to an emergency. A small number of non-machine readable passports are issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at posts overseas. It is not possible to provide details of the numbers of passports this involves.
	All arriving passengers subject to immigration control are checked against the computerised warning index (WI) which automatically reads personal details from machine readable passports. The WI already contains the details of large numbers of lost or stolen passports and identity cards.
	While the Immigration Service does not currently retain the passport details of all arriving passengers, it is currently urgently exploring with other control agencies the use of technology to require airlines to retain the passport or identity card details of passengers before they board a flight to the United Kingdom.

Passports

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many passports were reported lost or stolen in the last financial year; how many passports which have been reported lost or stolen were subsequently handed back to the authorities; and whether the charges made to those losing their passports reflect the complete cost of issuing replacement passports.

Lord Rooker: The United Kingdom Passport Service records information on passports reported lost, stolen or unavailable. For the year ending 31 March 2001 there were 122,269 passports recorded under this category. The Passport Service does not routinely collect data on the number of passports lost or stolen which have been recovered.
	Requests for the issue of a replacement passport are handled in the same way as first-time applications. The costs involved are broadly comparable and therefore no additional charges are made. The Passport Service operates on a net running cost regime and all costs are recovered through receipt of passport fees.

Ferrets and Gerbils in Breeding and Supply Establishments

Lord Gregson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish guidance on the housing and care of ferrets and gerbils in breeding and supplying establishments designated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Lord Rooker: We have today laid before Parliament a draft Supplement to the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals in Designated Breeding and Supplying Establishments. The draft sets standards for the housing and care of ferrets and gerbils in designated breeding and supply establishments, and is a consequence of the species concerned being added to the list in Schedule 2 of the 1986 Act (animals which can only be obtained from designated sources). The draft has been produced and laid under Section 21 of the Act and is subject to the negative resolution procedure. Copies have been placed in the Library.

Asylum Applicants: Application Registration Card

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether those who have applied for asylum in the United Kingdom are entitled to travel abroad while their applications are being considered; and whether the proposed new smart cards to be issued to asylum seekers will be valid as travel documents for re-entry into the United Kingdom.

Lord Rooker: Asylum applicants who travel abroad while their claim is being considered are deemed to have withdrawn their application for asylum in the United Kingdom.
	The application registration card (ARC) is not a travel document and will not confer the right of re-entry to the United Kingdom. The purpose of the ARC is to show that the holder has lodged an asylum application with the Home Office's Immigration and Nationality Directorate. It will replace the standard acknowledgement letter (SAL) which is currently used and provide evidence of entitlement to the facilities or services available to asylum seekers.
	The ARC's format and security features, which includes the holder's fingerprints, will make positive identification more straightforward to establish and help prevent abuse.

Lay Magistrates

Lord Carlile of Berriew: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the current allowances payable to lay magistrates who lose a day's pay in order to sit; and whether they have any proposals to change those allowances.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: Lay magistrates receive Financial Loss Allowance to compensate them for loss of earnings or social security benefits or additional expenditure incurred by them in performing their duties. The maximum amounts payable for sitting in excess of four hours are £83.56 for self-employed magistrates and £65.18 for employed magistrates. Lay magistrates are also entitled to claim travelling and subsistence allowance.
	The rates at which allowances are paid are reviewed annually by my department. The allowances were reviewed earlier this year and the new rates became payable on 1 September 2001.

Newspaper Distribution

Lord Smith of Leigh: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the current system for the wholesale distribution of national newspapers serves the interests of the public and of the smaller retailers.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Director General of Fair Trading monitors the newspaper distribution markets and does not believe there are currently grounds, under the Competition Act, for an investigation.

Waste Rubber Tyres

Lord Glentoran: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) what contingency plans they propose for the disposal of waste rubber tyres after 2003 when they will no longer be disposed of in landfill sites; and
	(b) whether they anticipate that they will be able to meet their recycling targets after 2003 as a result of this change.

Lord Whitty: (a) The Landfill Directive introduces a two-stage diversion of tyres away from landfill: whole tyres in 2003 and shredded tyres in 2006. Value is presently recovered from around 70 per cent of the 400,000 tonnes of tyres disposed of each year, with the balance landfilled, largely in shredded form.
	The Government maintain regular dialogue with the tyre industry on this issue through the Used Tyre Working Group and we remain confident that sufficient tyre recovery capacity will be developed to enable the disposal of tyres to landfill to cease by the specified dates.
	(b) Tyres form part of the industrial and commercial waste stream. Diverting them from landfill will contribute to the target of reducing the amount of that waste landfilled to 85 per cent of 1998 levels by 2005 but will not contribute to the Government's targets for the recycling of household waste.

Foot and Mouth: Rural Recovery

Lord Inglewood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they have not fully accepted the recommendations of Lord Haskins' report on Rural Recovery after Foot-and-Mouth Disease; and whether this means that they have no confidence in Lord Haskins.

Lord Whitty: The Government made an immediate and positive response to the constructive and thoughtful report of my noble friend Lord Haskins. On the day the report was published, on 18 October, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs responded immediately to just one of his numerous recommendations—that extra resources should be provided for the Business Recovery Fund. That her announcement involved expenditure of £24 million through an extension of the Business Recovery Fund shows just how seriously we took his recommendations and those of the Rural Task Force, also published on 18 October. As well as giving this immediate and practical response, Ministers indicated that they would consider the other recommendations in the report and provide a full response shortly.

Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy

Baroness Gale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will provide the information on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' TSE research programme promised in their statement on 22 October.

Lord Whitty: We have today placed a paper describing the programme in full in the Library of the House.

GLA Precept

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What increase in the Greater London Authority precept they would consider acceptable.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The GLA sets its own precept, and should consult with the London electorate, to whom it is accountable. London voters will make informed choices about their own council tax and public services in their areas. Nevertheless, we have reserve powers to protect local people from excessive council tax increases.

Small Businesses: Rate Relief

Lord Willoughby de Broke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to introduce legislation consequent upon the proposal in the Green Paper Modernising Local Government Finance to give special rate relief to small businesses.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: We will shortly be issuing a White Paper on local government which will set out our decisions on the Green Paper's proposals, including that for rate relief for small businesses. The timing of any subsequent legislation would depend on the availability of parliamentary time.

Vehicles and Railway Line Safety

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action is being taken or planned to prevent vehicles travelling along motorways or similar roads from crashing onto railway lines.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The standards for barrier provision on motorways and all-purpose trunk roads are set out in The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges which is produced by the Highways Agency. In March this year the Deputy Prime Minister asked the Highways Agency to review its standards for nearside safety barriers and that work is taking place.

West Coast Main Line

Lord Inglewood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether recent announcements about delays in upgrading the track on the West Coast Main Line represent any dilution of their long-term commitment to the West Coast Main Line being an integral core component of the United Kingdom rail network.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government remain committed to providing a revitalised rail network and the West Coast Main Line upgrade is an integral part of that commitment. It is clear from our discussions with the Strategic Rail Authority, the Railway Administrator and Virgin that the project is facing problems in terms of cost increases and uncertainty about the timetable for delivery. Railtrack and Virgin have presented a number of options for taking the project forward.
	We are in discussion with the SRA, the Railway Administrator and Virgin to ensure that we have a common understanding of the issues involved and the options. We are working to confirm a project which is value for money and can be delivered to a clear timetable, subject to the need to obtain any planning consents.

Middlesex Hospital Chapel and Murals

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans there are to ensure that the chapel and the murals in the front hall of the Middlesex Hospital are preserved when the hospital buildings are permanently vacated.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The trust's art and heritage committee, with the assistance of the Slade School of Fine Arts, is considering how best to use the murals in the front hall of the Middlesex in the context of the new hospital. Moving them to a new location will not present a technical problem. The most appropriate setting and presentation is being considered by the committee.
	The chapel at the Middlesex Hospital is a Grade 2 listed building and as such will be preserved on the site. This is a matter for the London Borough of Westminster, as the relevant planning authority.

Induced Abortion and Breast Cancer

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What guidance has been issued to hospitals and clinics offering abortion services on advising their patients of the link between induced abortion and breast cancer.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' evidence-based guideline The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion considered this issue and decided that the evidence was inconclusive. The college issued the guideline to its fellows and members in March 2000 and it can also be bought from its bookshop.
	As there is no scientific consensus on the possible association wth breast cancer, the Imperial Cancer Research Fund is co-ordinating research on this topic and hopes the conclusions will be available next year.

Tourism

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Tourism Initiative Group has presented its report to Ministers; and, if so, what is their response.

Baroness Blackstone: In July, the Secretary of State asked the English Tourism Council (ETC) to consult senior tourism industry leaders and propose a clear programme for modernising and restructuring the industry which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport could then consider as a basis for entering into partnership and investing in reform. The ETC then set up the Tourism Initiative Group to take this work forward and sent its report to the department on 10 September.
	The Tourism Initiative Group's report was part of an ongoing process to push ahead with the modernisation of the tourism sector. This report was discussed when my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, together with my honourable friend the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting, met leading figures from the tourism industry on 10 and 11 October at Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire. This meeting was convened to discuss the immediate difficulties facing the industry in the wake of the foot and mouth outbreak and the terrorist attacks of 11 September but also to agree the necessary programme for long-term strategic reform of the industry to achieve more consistent high standards and better value for money.
	The main conclusions for action from the meeting include the urgent need for tourism bodies to review their programmes so as best to meet the needs of the current difficulties; the importance of acting in the new spirit of partnership between industry and government; the creation of the CBI chaired voice for tourism, the Tourism Alliance; the need to focus public sector resources on improving co-ordination of marketing, rationalising tourism data collection so that it is more useful, improving the quality of product, strengthening service through improved training and skills and developing better tourist information, including through the use of the Internet. The outcomes of the meeting build on the Government's strategy for tourism, Tomorrow's Tourism, and the work commissioned from the Tourism Initiative Group.
	The following table sets these conclusions out in more detail. Tourism Industry Seminar—Outcomes Immediate short-term action
	Our approach will be to ensure government and industry understands and appraises the impact of current challenges, co-ordinate public sector and private sector responses to those challenges, and for the public sector to make a direct contribution where that is justified.
	
		
			  Who to lead Timescale 
			 1. The London Tourist Board and the English Tourism Council have been asked to review their programmes, working with the industry, to meet the new circumstances. DCMS Ministers are ready to see more of the more than £60m already available directed to marketing to the domestic market. The hotel and major attractions industry are creating packages to offer to the domestic market. DCMS will chase progress and encourage and support co-operation of this sort. Industry and associations, LTB, ETC, DCMS Immediate 
			  
			 2. The British Tourist Authority is re-designing its overseas marketing campaign, in close consultation with key industry partners in the UK and overseas. BTA End of October 
			  
			 3. Other measures which might provide effective assistance are being examined. The industry has made a number of proposals. DCMS October 
			  
			 4. Ministers are strong advocates of and for the industry. DCMS October 
			  
			 5. Ministers and officials are in constant discussion with the tourism industry about the impact of the events in America. DCMS Ongoing 
		
	
	Medium-term action
	We will take this action in a new spirit of partnership between industry and government. The industry will take the lead in modernising, improving quality and product development. Government will support where better regulation and co-ordination of public services is needed. Ministers will review in three months whether the current distribution of responsibilities supporting the joint programme is working well enough and will meet with industry again in six months to review the progress of the whole programme. All the initial action is to be taken within six months and further assignments then agreed at a further joint meeting with industry leaders.
	
		
			  Who to lead Timescale 
			 1. We will create a voice for the tourism sector which reflects the diversity of its main core industries and ensures a coherent view is put to government on key opportunities and issues of common concern. CBI-supported Tourism Alliance Launched October, starts November 2001 
			 2. Ministers are ready to develop stronger and more co-ordinated arrangements for the marketing of English tourism to the domestic market in response to the views of the industry. We are ready to concentrate public sector resources on three areas—marketing co-ordination, data gathering, and quality assessment. This will mean reducing support on other areas. Marketing co-ordination should have a strong private sector lead and embrace regional and local government spending. DCMS, ETC and the industry to develop new arrangements First discussion at November Tourism ForumNew plan within six months 
			   
			 3. We will strengthen regional arrangements. We are committed to closer marketing co-ordination at regional level, development of strong sub-regional brands, and implementation of TIC modernisation. RDAs, RTBs and local authorities Proposals to Secretary of State by end November 
			 4. We are ready to develop a "fitness for purpose" approach to better regulation of hotels and restaurants. The aim is to bring together the many regulatory controls, and make them into a basic and strong assurance to customers. Premises not meeting the standard would be improved or closed. Arrangements for modernising alcohol and entertainment licensing, and gaming, will go ahead in parallel. DCMS with key Departments and Local Government Association Report to Secretary of State by end December 
			 5. We will bring together the many sources of public sector data on tourism performance and trends and create a partnership with the private sector to give the industry and Ministers the information which is needed to decide policy, make investments, and improve service to the customer. The first step is to rationalise what is there at present and improve coherence and leadership. One objective will be to undertake a public attitude survey, and another to report annually. There will be a regional and local dimension to this but the first phase will look at national information and data. DCMS, ETC, BTA Prepare remit for Secretary of State's approval within one month 
			 6. We will follow a fresh approach to training and skills. Our ambition is to create a major new skills body embracing the major industries of the sector. It will drive an improvement in service quality and career opportunities. Ministers will back it strongly within Government and ensure a fair share of resources is available to support effective new arrangements. Industry to convene, Ministers to back it in Government To be set up and seek recognition by Government by December 
			 7. We will ensure wide adoption of the productivity and performance improvement techniques emerging for the Government-supported Productivity for Profit initiative. Industry Launched. Review in 2002 
			 8. We will build on the EnglandNet and other e-tourism initiatives to create a strong network of tourist information services and to encourage the take up by small and micro-businesses of electronic means of communication and booking. ETC, DCMS, Industry, RDAs First stage by April 2002

Treasure Act 1996

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will announce the outcome of the review of the Treasure Act 1996.

Baroness Blackstone: The Report on the Operation of the Treasure Act 1996: Review and Recommendations is being published today and I am arranging for copies to be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

Terrorist Acts

Viscount Bridgeman: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they share the view of the Justice Minister of the Republic of Ireland that we are moving inexorably towards a common definition of a terrorist act; and whether in their view punishment beatings and enforced exile carried out by supporters of Sinn Fein-IRA constitute terrorist acts.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The interpretation of terrorism in the United Kingdom is placed within an international context and is contained in Part I, Section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which received Royal Assent on 20 July 2000 and came into force on 19 February 2001.
	Under the Terrorism Act 2000 paramilitary beatings and enforced exile can be interpreted as terrorist acts. The Government remain utterly and unequivocally opposed to any such acts from whatever quarter they come.

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe: UK Delegation

Lord Walker of Doncaster: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	If they will announce the full composition of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of Western European Union.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Western European Union is as follows: Terry Davis Esq MP (Leader)
	
		
			   
			 Full Representatives Substitute Members 
			 David Atkinson Esq MP Janet Anderson MP 
			 Malcolm Bruce Esq MP Tony Banks Esq MP 
			 Sir Sydney Chapman MP Baroness Billingham 
			 Tom Cox Esq MP Lord Burlison 
			 James Cran Esq MP Ann Cryer MP 
			 Bill Etherington Esq  MP Michael Hancock Esq  CBE MP 
			 Paul Flynn Esq MP Baroness Hooper 
			 Lord Judd Rt Hon Lord Kilclooney 
			 Baroness Knight of  Collingtree DBE Khalid Mahmood Esq  MP 
			 Tony Lloyd Esq MP David Marshall Esq MP 
			 Jim Marshall Esq MP Alan Meale Esq MP 
			 Chris McCafferty MP Gordon Prentice Esq MP 
			 Kevin McNamara Esq  MP Geraldine Smith MP 
			 Eddie O'Hara Esq MP Lord Tomlinson 
			 Lord Russell-Johnston Dr Rudi Vis MP 
			 John Wilkinson Esq MP Robert Walter Esq MP 
			 Jimmy Wray Esq MP

Civil Employment under the Crown

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they intend to take to remove general restrictions as to nationality which apply to civil employment under the crown.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Government are keen to open up civil employment under the crown regardless of nationality, while reserving the right, enjoyed by all EC member states, to reserve posts for their own nationals where strictly necessary. Although it has not been possible to secure a slot in the legislative programme to address civil employment under the crown generally, the Police Bill contains a provision which will enable a person of any nationality who is living in the UK free of conditions and who meets the required standards to be appointed to the office of constable.

Equalities Commission

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What lessons they have learnt from the experiences of a unified single Equalities Commission in Northern Ireland; and whether there are any benefits for the remainder of the United Kingdom in following that route.

Baroness Morgan of Huyton: We are learning from the experience in Northern Ireland of creating a unified single Equality Commission. It covers a range of practical and financial matters, as well as issues relating to the functions, structure, balance, focus and accountability of the commission. Further lessons will no doubt be learnt as the commission beds down. Equality and human rights issues, including the setting up of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, were key factors in the Good Friday Agreement. The situation in Northern Ireland is unique. However, we are continuing to watch developments there so that we can consider whether, and, if so, the extent to which, lessons learnt might be applied throughout the rest of the UK.

Anti-discrimination Legislation

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to simplify anti-discrimination legislation and bring forward a single Equalities Bill, as is the case in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Morgan of Huyton: The Government's priority is to achieve coherence and, where desirable and appropriate, consistency between the different anti-discrimination statutes in Great Britain. We also need to ensure we effectively meet our European obligations. Our actions will be focused on the steps necessary to provide individuals, business and other organisations with a clear understanding of their respective rights and responsibilities under these laws. There are a number of options for achieving this. We intend to issue a consultation document setting out our plans on equality legislation within the next three months.

Gibraltar

Lord Garel-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the position of talks regarding the future of Gibraltar.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: As previously announced, the Government resumed talks under the Brussels Process in July. We are aiming to build a better future for Gibraltar and firmly believe this represents the best way forward. A further ministerial meeting under the Brussels Process is planned for 20 November. Both we and the Spanish Government hope that the Chief Minister of Gibraltar will participate in this meeting. The Government stand by their commitment to the people of Gibraltar as set out in the Preamble to the 1969 Gibraltar Constitution.

Gibraltar: European Parliament Elections

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether British residents in Gibraltar will have the right to vote in the next election at the European Parliament.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government are actively working to ensure Gibraltar's enfranchisement in time for the 2004 elections to the European Parliament. We unequivocally accept the obligation to give effect to the judgment of the ECHR and are continuing our efforts to this end.